The Itals w/ Jah Creation, Da' Gullah Rootz

When: Fri., May 21 2010

Getting their start in the late ’60s and early ’70s, reggae group The Itals are among the highest royalty of authentic Jamaican music. Known as a roots reggae harmony group, The Itals brought their influential style into the dancehall era. During the ’80s and ’90s, they toured heavily and released a pile of singles and LPs. Alvin “Keith” Porter (previously of The Westmorelites and Future Generation) and Ronnie Davis collaborated on different projects before settling on the name The Itals, which comes from a Rastafarian term meaning natural and pure. Their 1976 single “In a Dis Ya Time” went on to top the Jamaican charts, becoming their first major hit and a reggae classic. Over the years, Keith Porter has remained the bandleader. The Itals share the stage with Wilmington, N.C., reggae/groove band Jah Creation and Charleston’s own reggae/funk-rock combo Da’ Gullah Rootz. —T. Ballard Lesemann